Heat Resilience Challenge Can You Handle the Heat
As global temperatures continue to rise, the United Nations has warned that we are now living in an era of “global boiling.” However, the impact of these changing climate conditions on our bodies and health is often overlooked.
To shed light on this issue, Prof Damian Bailey from the University of South Wales, UK, conducted an intriguing experiment. He aimed to recreate a typical heatwave experience and observe its effects on the human body.
The experiment involved placing a test subject in an environmental chamber, where temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels were precisely controlled. The initial temperature was set at a comfortable 21°C. Prof Bailey noted that at this temperature, the subject’s blood pressure and heart rate were functioning well, indicating that they were in good physical condition.
As the external temperature was gradually raised to around 37°C, equivalent to a hot day in the UK, the body’s physiological signals started changing. The brain’s thermostat, known as the hypothalamus, began sending out signals to maintain the body’s core temperature. As a result, the subject’s blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilated to release heat into the air, causing the person to appear redder. The subject also started to sweat slightly to cool down.
Finally, the temperature was raised even further to 40.3°C. At this point, the experiment ended, and the following observations were made about changes to the body:
- Blood flow to the brain fell 8.5%
- Core body temperature: 36.2 t0 37.5°C
- Breaths: up from 10 to 15 per minute
- Sweat: 400ml during the one-hour experiment
- Heart Rate: 54 to 87 beats per minute
- Skin temperature: 31.3 to 35.4C
- Memory puzzle score: fell from 23/30 to 17/30
The increasing frequency, severity, and duration of heatwaves, along with rising humidity levels, pose significant concerns for our health. According to researcher Rachel Cottle, as heatwaves become more humid, they can lead to sharp increases in our core body temperatures, which can be dangerous.
When humidity levels are high, our bodies find it more challenging to dissipate heat through sweating, making it difficult to regulate our core temperature. This can result in our core temperature rising to dangerous levels, leading to organ failure and life-threatening conditions.
For instance, in Pakistan and India last year, a severe heatwave with critical temperatures and high humidity levels became life-threatening for many individuals. When our core temperature reaches around 41-42 degrees centigrade, significant health problems can arise, and if not promptly treated, it can lead to hyperthermia, a condition where the body temperature becomes dangerously elevated, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. It is crucial to take measures to mitigate the impact of heatwaves, stay hydrated, and seek medical attention promptly if you experience any signs of heat-related illness during extreme weather conditions.
Some tips for coping with heat and heatstrokes are:
- Stay in the shade.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Keep your house cool.
- Don’t exercise in the hottest parts of the day.
- Stay hydrated.
- Try not to get sunburned.
